NRL paid $80k for Paul Gallen’s ASADA defence: report

Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen has been dealt a further blow in his fight against the NRL's $50,000 fine with reports he received $80,000 in legal assistance from league headquarters during the ASADA supplements investigation.

Gallen was fined and banned from playing for Australia next year after he published an abusive tweet claiming the NRL didn't care about Cronulla Sharks players.

He also called the management 'c----'.

He has vowed to fight the penalties, but will not be supported in his battle by the Cronulla Sharks.

The fallout from the fine saw judiciary chairman Paul Conlon quit his position, while NSWRL head George Peponis was summoned to NRL headquarters to explain his support for the Sharks captain.

Now it appears the tweet was even less justifiable, with revelations the NRL bankrolled Gallen's legal fight with ASADA, Fairfax has reported.

The NRL committed more than $350,000 overall to help 17 past and present Cronulla players during the doping body's investigation into a supplements program run at the club in 2011.